"I was born and brought up in Rahway. That is in New Jersey, about twenty miles from New York. My father lives about a mile from the village. He has a small farm."
"And you were brought up to work on the farm?"
"Well, it isn't exactly a farm, but we raise vegetables and fruits for the New York market. I went to school till a year ago. Then I graduated, and since then I have worked for my father."
"Did you like it?"
"No, I don't like working on land. I feel," continued Leslie, flushing, "that I was born for something better and nobler. Besides, I don't want to live in the country. I prefer the city. There's something going on here."
"Yes, that is true."
"And I wanted to be in the excitement. I'd rather live half as long in the city. You can live more here in a year than in the country in two years."
"Was there any particular thing that you wished to do?"
"Yes, I am coming to that. When I attended school there was one exercise that many of the boys did not like, but I did. I liked to declaim. I began with such pieces as 'Casabianca'—you know that, don't you?"
"Oh, yes," said Rupert, smiling. "I have spoken it more than once myself."